What is a Spydie hole, you ask? In addition to making some of the most iconic and popular knives for everyday carry, Benchmade also has a long and storied history with their outdoor knives. From my selection, youve seen how Benchmade tends to make either straight, plain edged EDC knives or ones with a partial serration. These are among the strongest blades Benchmade makes and so long as youre up to the task of taking care of them, they will perform excellently and will provide you with best-in-class usage and longevity. But the way it was added is different. That S30V steel is exactly the kind of metal Id want in an outdoor bushcrafting knife and with how solid and well balanced this knife is, its worth the 7.72 ounces of additional weight to ensure this goes in the loadout. However, make sure you dont go swimming with this in your pocket as the handle will expand and be unusable for a while. For self-propelled, wild travels, the Benchmade Bugout is arguably the best pocket knife we have tested. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. These high-grip sections make it easy to control the blade for fine cutting, even when its wet or slimy if you like to hold your index finger along the spine while skinning theyll give you some extra security. 30 Best Benchmade Knives in 2023 (Ranked by Category), Here Are the Best Benchmade Knives for EDC, Here Are the Best Folding Self Defense Benchmade Knives, Here Are the Best Fixed Blade Self Defense Benchmade Knives, Here Are the Best Benchmade Folding Camping, Hiking, and Hunting Knives, Here Are the Best Benchmade Fixed Blade Camping, Hiking, and Hunting Knives, 21. For the handle, you have a choice between traditional materials like wood or horn, modern composites, or even an all-metal handle. When youre in a sticky situation you hadnt thought youd end up in, the Bailout with its slim and light design sitting comfortably in your pocket is awaiting a quick flip of the wrist to reveal the ever-so-deadly 3.38 Tanto. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. I saw you listed those two knives above as alternatives, but just wanted to see what you may think again given my specific concerns. I personally chose the gut hook version of this knife because I think there are tons of other drop-point fixed blades from Benchmade and the gut hook makes this one stand out. But not completely stainless. For this reason the Bailout is also a part of Benchmade's 'Black Class'. I say this because it is my favorite carry of all time. Its topnotch features combined with high performance ensure the folding knife suits your everyday needs.Overall, North Fork 1503 takes pride in being a product of a respectable brand and it is specially built for tackling multiple tasks.Whether you want a reliable hunting knife, a reliable outdoor companion or you want something to use for making precision cuts, this tactical folding knife is your best bet. While you might be thinking this will be your next EDC of choice, Im thinking this would make a great gift! Is it worth it to pay extra for high-quality American made goods? For example, the Benchmade Bugout 535-191 Gold Class edition consists of a Damascus steel blade thats hand folded hundreds of times and a handcrafted carbon fiber handle. Its so smooth that I cant help but to open it each and every time I pull it out! Even when soaking wet, you never feel like youll lose grip and the lock is so strong you could support the weight of an average man on it all day without worry. Usually, Id error on the side of an automatic knife to fit the bill of a tactical rescue tool, however, with how easy and buttery smooth Benchmades single-handed opening actions are, I have absolutely no doubt in having this as a manual rescue knife. You need something with a cutting edge long enough to be useful, but it also needs to be a size you can carry anywhere. Blade Style: Drop-Point With Saw-Tooth SpineBlade Composition: D2Handle Composition: Bare Skeletonized and SlottedBlade Length: 4.2Total Length: 9.03Total Weight: 5.6 ounces. Two thumb studs on either side of the blade allow for fast and easy opening with either hand. A note to my readers: These knives are designed to kill people. If breaking folding knives is a concern of yours, look to Benchmade! Just be aware of this before you buy. The line is built upon a foundation of rigorous testing and research and development for use by real hunters. A folder is more compact and safer to carry, but when open and locked the blade is rigid enough for anything youre likely to ask of it. CPM-20CV is not a steel Benchmade is known to use but this particular steel offers incredible corrosion resistance while still being close in hardness to the other ultra-premium steels. The only two folding knives I own are the Bugout and a full size Grip. The North Fork from Benchmade is well made. D2 tool steel is specifically engineered to survive a beating and thats what this blade is capable of doing. It feels a lot like super high-quality Balisongs with how it flips effortlessly and the sound it makes. My Review: This knife isnt for everybody, thats for sure, however, if youre an avid hunter who would rather expend energy on the actual hunt itself as opposed to getting to your stomping grounds, this may be an alternative worth considering. I'm just a survivalist and knife lover. My Review: Oh boy the Bedlam is a beaut of a blade but I swear, this is not the knife for everyone! Unlike cheap friction held blades, this one actually does hold in place quite well and despite having an amazing grip on the blade, its very easy to deploy. The Benchmade Bugout; all photos by. Despite being expensive, many people flock to buy Benchmade knives. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. For the price, you get great quality and lasting design. Its ambidextrous, anodized, and feels very luxurious in the grip. We will explain! By the way, did you know Benchmade makes fire starters? Benchmade - Bugout 535-191, EDC Folding Knife, Gold Class, Drop-Point Blade, Manual Open, Axis Locking Mechanism, Made in USA. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Benchmade North Fork Review- Solid Hunting Knife and EDC Option Homegrown Outdoors 542 subscribers Subscribe 114 11K views 2 years ago Review of the Benchmade North Fork (15031-2) folding knife. In this case we are talking about the different handle materials: the Bailout comes with a Grivory and an aluminium handle. Youll find that the Griptilian can do every single one of them. Benchmade is comparable to Bentley in the knife world and a brand like that is simply going to come with a premium for the name. Ever since childhood, Ive always loved to play with knives in my moms kitchen. If extra goodies are what you want, the Tactical Triage is worth a look. Step 4 Materials:Finally, consider materials. Some of the reasons I personally prefer the Bugout over the Mini Grip include the longer blade length at 3.25" vs 2.91", the blade shape lending itself better for slicing, the weight reduction, and the awesome short carry clip. Use oil to lubricate the opening mechanism and play with it for a few hours. Blade Style: Double-Sided Spear-PointBlade Composition: D2Handle Composition: Scale Textured 6061-T6 AluminumBlade Length: 4.52Total Length: 9.21Total Weight: 5.11 ounces. Lastly, lets take a look at the Dymondwood handle. The Bugout is available with Grivory, titanium and CF-Elite. Check out the beautifully crafted hand-built Damasteel Foray here. The Anthem is one of the best general-purpose knives you can buy for under $500. The blades are crafted from the same ultra high-quality CPM-S30V and have the same versatile drop-point design but the Ridge encompasses a synthetic handle called a Dual-Durometer handle while the Creek has an old school nylon filled wooden handle. I will note, when these do go dull (after ridiculous amounts of use) they can be a bit tricky to sharpen, but as with everything, patience is a virtue and so long as you keep these knives in tip-top shape, theyll glide right through anything you hunt. Ideally, the knife suits anyone keen on getting a reliable folding knife.North Fork-1503 isnt ideal for knives buyers with a relatively small budget.Again, its razor sharp blade can potentially make it unsafe for inexperienced hunting knife users. Quality is just one of the many factors, another one is LifeSharp. The knifes drop-point utility blade is made from s30v steel, which is as sharp as you can get nowadays, and a lot of great Benchmade knives make use of this material. Its satin-finished drop point blade uses S30V steel and features two jimped sections one by the thumb grip and one closer to the tip for ultimate blade control. alain picard wife / ap calculus bc multiple choice / benchmade north fork vs bugout. Alright, that was cheesy, but the Altitude is a seriously cool knife and as much as it is cool, its actually functional. The high end Mini Grip is probably too expensive for mainstream folks. Are you going to wiggle, rock, and twist the blade often to get your job done? Many of these use their Monolock feature thats basically a regular locking mechanism but with the knife liner and the knife handle being made out of the same casting, thus increasing its strength and durability drastically. My current daily carry is the SOG AE24-CP Aegis Mini, and if you are familiar with it or similar products, it is a spring loaded release and takes some thumb effort to get the blade out. Red Screw Set For Benchmade Bugout 535BK Bailout 537 Scale & Pocket Clip Screw screw4you. All images on our website are the property of their respective owners. Dark Vintage Bronze Titanium Deep Carry Pocket Clip Made For Benchmade North Fork, Grizzly Creek, Crooked River and Griptilian Knife blade4sell. Along with fire its one of the most basic tools when you have a knife you can manufacture almost anything else youre likely to need, including shelter. Throughout the list, Ill provide my thoughts on our favorite Benchmade knives across several different categories and throughout both fixed and folding knives in those categories if applicable. In all reality, this knife was designed to be abused and it will withstand constant daily abuse in harsh elements with no problems and thats why the Crooked River is a solid choice among outdoor sportsmen. Because everyone is different, Benchmade includes offerings for both the OTF (Out the Front) and OTS (Out the Side) lovers. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Diamond Textured GrivoryBlade Length: 3.24Total Length: 7.46Total Weight: 1.85 ounces. Benchmade Knives Custom Handle Scales Custom Bugout Scales Custom Bugout Scales These custom scales fit any version of the 535 Bugout from Benchmade. The one way in which these two are different is in the assisted opening function. It has a blade length that measures in at 3.24 inches long, and the handle measures in at 4.22 inches long That brings the overall length on the Bugout to 7.46 inches when the blade is fully locked out. The first thing you might notice is the lack of scales. I think the name probably sums up why its in the EDC category but lets explore what makes this one of the most popular reverse-tanto blades on the market today. The manual axis lock can also be released one-handedly. Its hard to explain, but this knife is pretty darn cool for the right person. Generally, Benchmade has a good reputation. Our test team (and likely you) like this feature. Flipping this open with one hand quickly becomes second nature and is, in my opinion, more satisfying than even some of the best assisted-opening knives. I would say northfork. Being one of the largest and most successful knife manufacturers in the world, Benchmade has a wide selection of knives across multiple categories. Between those two even with the variants of the mini grip, I would still choose the northfork all day. The handle is available in two variants, both made up of scales attached to a steel frame; the 15031-1 has scales made from G10 composite, while the 15031-2 uses Dymondwood. And they share the same opening and locking mechanisms. Created for hunting The knife's drop-point blade is ideal for the avid hunter. The grind leaves a stiffening spine to about three-quarters of an inch from the point, and there are two grooved sections to give better purchase for your thumb just in front of the pivot, and at the front end of the spine. Benchmade North Fork (Scott Murdock) The blade and frame are equally tough. That drop-point is insanely strong due to S90Vs top tier tensile strength and hardness. The deep carry clip also makes it an ideal choice. It encompasses everything we like to see in an EDC including a versatile drop-point, the super-strong AXIS locking mechanism, a good pocket weight to size ratio, a strong and tight clip, and an overall high-quality build design that should suit you through a variety of different tasks. The spring-loaded characteristics are made possible by utilizing two omega springs custom-built in-house at Benchmade that push the locking bar into place when the tang of the blade exceeds their allotted tension. Instead, you get ALL the goodies! It's a more solid feeling knife than its bigger brother because the liners fill almost all of the handle area. [Answered]. If you need serrated knives for tasks like rope cutting or some light sawing that cant be accomplished by a straight edge, consider a partially serrated EDC. This kind of steel gives Benchmade knife blades good strength, long life, and resistance against corrosion. The knife is made for hunting, but it can still be utilized for other tasks and in various outdoor activities.Unlike other Benchmade knives, the folding knife is crafted to deliver great performance coupled with enhanced durability.Even some of the most popular folding knives cant match the degree of versatility offered by Benchmade North Fork-1503.Again, even the market leaders cannot tackle as many tasks as the ones this folding knife can tackle. North Fork-1503 is exceptionally well-designed. Top 10 Best Benchmade Knife Reviews in 2023, Benchmade Mini Griptilian Sheepsfoot knife. OTF knives are pretty cool and Benchmade does a fantastic job designing them, however, I think the Infidel shines best as a true fixed blade as the very nature of the blade is based on combat and tactical usage. I wont lie to you, these arent exactly the saw-teeth youd want for camping or outdoor use, but they will cause wounds that a normal drop-point would never be able to cause, ensuring your assailant is immobilized and you are free to carry on. However, we cannot call it a great value. The 440HC steel is not like the typical premium hard to sharpen steels that Benchmade usually uses and can be sharpened relatively easily in a short amount of time. I bought it to use around the farm (orange handles makes it easy to find if I lay it down somewhere). If you like your Freeks on the small side, check out the Mini Freek found at this link here. The 154CM isnt my favorite steel and certainly isnt the best offered by Benchmade but it does excel in some areas such as being easier to sharpen than some of Benchmades favorite steels, like S30V. As a finishing touch the pocket clip is identical. The Fact is everything I love about slender pocket knives while still being one lean mean little blade. In terms of ease of carrying and usability, this may just be the knife that sits the most comfortably in between those two attributes found on the market today. If you are ok with the blade steel of the North Fork (the Mini Barrage offers choices, the North Fork does not) and do not want the assisted opening function of the Barrage, the wooden handle of the North Fork may appeal to you. The pocket clip is secure and can be switched from one side to the other, depending on your hand preference. Benchmade 15031 North Fork is a compact hunting knife that's also perfect for everyday carry. My Review: The North Fork is sold as a folding hunting knife and although it certainly fits the bill, I also think many people can benefit from the overall versatility and toughness this knife provides in an EDC role. The Benchmade North Fork is a very neat little knife, perfect for everyday carry; it doesnt take up much pocket space and it isnt heavy either. The latter is layered from maple and Baltic birch laminations, pressure-bonded with resin into a wood-plastic composite thats completely moisture-resistant. 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,055) $ 24.99. . Wrapping it all together is a very well built polymer sheath with a snap lock and that coveted Benchmade butterfly stamped on it. The Rescue Tool is in the same form factor as the original SOCP dagger but instead of a spear-point blade, youll be getting a belt cutter and pry tool. It finally made sense. With that said, the Valox handles here are nothing to scoff at and trust me, they are super durable and ultra-strong, possibly just as strong as any other material. The cutting edge is about as long as its possible to fit on a 2.7-inch blade theres no wasted space, with the sharpened edge starting right at the pivot. I have all 3 and they're pretty different. The knifes drop-point blade is ideal for the avid hunter. The main drive behind its design was to produce a tool with the performance for dressing out a deer in a small package. It has a base G10 layer and a gray and black layered and milled G10 layer on top. Suggested Alternatives to the Benchmade North Fork, Black Friday / Cyber Monday Camping Deals: Gear, Hiking, Survival, Outdoor Deals. The 3V depends on personal prefernce but it won't break when prying and so on despite having a thin tip. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: G10Blade Length: 3.48Total Length: 8.33Total Weight: 5.28 ounces. North Fork! Usually, pocket-friendly knives make use of less sturdy steel, but that is not so in this knife. Of course, if youre already familiar with how to use one, youll be ready to rock and roll and strap this puppy on your MOLLE vest! I think the blade deployment concerns are valid, depending on your application. My Review: This knife was designed to get down and dirty outdoors and survive just about any environmental situation. My Review: The Turret has been a Marine Approved favorite since it came out and thats due to the fact that this knife is an absolute monster no matter how you use it. I like the low visibility these EDC blades offer. The Bugout has a very thin handle - it's fine for light tasks if that's all you need it for. All others will prefer the Mini-Barrage. 5. If you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I can see that each knife has some advantages and disadvantages, as evidenced by all the varying opinions here. COMFORTABLE: The 15031-1's lightweight design and textured handle make it comfortable to hold, use, and take anywhere. This may actually be one of the most well-rounded knives weve ever Marine Approved. This is probably one of the sleekest and lightest self-defense knives on the market today that most people would also find quite handy in a wide array of non-life threatening situations. I have all 3. My Review: Adding a little flavor to the list is the SOCP dagger and trainer combo offered by Benchmade. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. That spring is always under tension so be extra careful with the button! Okay, I know, that was a lead up to virtually nothing, but nowadays we have the AXIS lock which makes Benchmades folding knives exceptionally strong. A drop-point blade is a classic and effective shape for a hunting knife, and the North Fork makes effective use of it. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-3VHandle Composition: Diamond Textured Rubber SantopreneBlade Length: 3.75Total Length: 8.25Total Weight: 4.51 ounces. Straight edges are great for versatile utility work. There is no AXIS lock or AXIS assisted opening but instead, the blade is held in place via friction from the frame.